Medical detachment reinforces European clinics for annual training

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AUGUSTA, MAINE (11/01/2019) (readMedia)-- Soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard's medical detachment recently spent their 2019 annual training in one of four locations treating U.S. service members, their families and additional patients.

Five teams of Soldiers augmented active duty staff at clinics in Germany, Italy and Belgium assisting in emergency room operations, pediatric visits, preventative medicine inspections, dental procedures and medical office assistance.

"We saw our own (American) service members and family, but also patients from other countries," said Maj. Jonathan Bausman, the detachment commander, who works as a pediatrician in Portland.

Bausman's team served at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, and treated nearly 300 patients during their three week stay. This included patients from Romania, Lithuania, Italy, Poland and Greece.

Bausman said the detachment was grateful for the overseas training opportunity because it provided job specialty training that is not available on a standard drill weekend.

Staff at the Vilseck Dental Clinic in Grafenwoehr, Germany, reported that during the three weeks that the Maine Soldiers were on duty, the local dental readiness increased by nearly 3%.

Other locations included a second clinic in Grafenwoehr and Landstuhl, Germany, and Vicenza, Italy. In total, the five teams saw nearly 2,200 patients during their annual training and also formed professional relationships with the staff.

"I found that throughout our rotation, people within our sections would come to us for advice and guidance," said Staff Sgt. Keagan Cote, a preventative medicine specialist. Cote described how rewarding it was to make that individual connection and that it meant a lot to have their active counterparts value their input as National Guardsmen.

For media inquiries, please contact the Maine National Guard public affairs office at 207-430-5759, or ng.me.mearng.list.public-affairs@mail.mil

Caption for 190908-Z-SC231-001: Soldiers from the Maine Army National Guard's medical detachment pose for a group photo during their September 2019 drill period. During their annual training in Europe this year, teams from the unit saw nearly 2,200 patients. Maine Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Angela Parady